OK, had a full day to recover, here is my Sensation review, LONG

[natters]

First off, we had the surprise of our lives when our TA called the day before the cruise and said that we had been upgraded from a cat. 11 to the owners suite (Penthouse II). He said he didnt even know they existed on the Sensation. Well, there are two of them and they are on the 12, sports deck all the way in the back with a sign that says "Private". We live in Tampa and our friend dropped us off at the port terminal #2 and as soon as we went in the terminal we felt like we were famous people. The gentleman at the deck told us to leave our luggage and gp up the elevator and a lady would meet us and escort the rest of the way and that is what happened. We were escorted throught the entire process, all we had to do was to give her our paperwork and credit card and she walked us through the Skippers Club and over to a waiting area. There was a wedding party that went on first and then she came and got us and took us to the Penthouse, it was awesome. It had over 1,000 square feet, a bar, a veranda, living room, seperate bedroom, walk-in closets, double sinks and a whirlpool bath. It had windows all across the back that looked down at the pool. It reminded me of the pictures you see of the Vegas suites that the high rollers stay in. We know this was a once in a life time experience for us and we definately took advantage of it. We met Zone, Marilyn, Sue Cheryl and other from the board invited them to see the suite, and I think Zone will have pictures posted. Our steward was Anna and she was wonderful!

Now, forget about the awesome suite, I will tell you about the general ship. It is colorful, very purple and neon. I never saw any stains on carpets but there is definately a sewage odor in certain places, not bad but it is there. It is very easy to get around and find things and the crew is fantastic. We had early seating in the Fantasy at 6:15, we loved our dinner companions and loved our waiter "Nelson". I thought the food was very good, I had steak prepared rare as I liked and you have to try the pumpkin soup, oh my gosh is it good. Formal night was fun, we had lobster and prime rib. We brought our own bottles of wine and they only charges us a corkage fee the last night and I think it was because we asked to change to late seating and had a different staff. We liked all the bars, Touch of Class was over the top, casino was fun. The only negative thing I can say about food was the buffet at the Lido deck, we had a burger there the first afternoon and it was AWFUL. Stick with the Ruebens and grilled sandwiches at the Seaview. Drinks were string and good at every bar and just to let you know, we had no problem bringing two bottles of booze in our luggage. It was a great cruise, perfect weather and we met a lot of great people. This is long so I will wrtie a different review on Cozumel. Feel free to ask any questions.

[halos]

WOW!

How awesome!!

I am so glad you had a great time and a great uprade!!

 

I believe in Miracles

MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004

Calm Seas, Good Friends

[rscima]

More! More! I want more! That wasn't too long! Where are the pictures?! I want to see that great suite! Congratulations on that upgrade...Do you think it had to do with your "past cruiser" status?

We are going on the Sensation 6/3 & I think I would get excited reading about the seams in the carpet at this point!

[natters]

Cima, no, that is what is so funny, we have never sailed on Carnival before, the only cruise we have been on was lst year on the Empress Regal.. Maybe it was because we booked over a year ago and we booked a cat 11 suite and I know they had a wedding party and maybe thay all booked suite and wanted to be together, I have NO idea, neither does my TA. I have lots of pic and will soon try and figure out how to post them.

[Disneycruiser#1]

That is really cool you were upgraded. I just got off the cruise before you the 5 day Sensation to GC and Cozumel and I did not notice any "smell" but we were in a 6B oceanview on the Main deck and that carpet does not smell but needs to be replaced. The deck below us Rivera was purple and orange and the carpet was just awful looking but once again did not notice a smell. I have noticed that all of the stair ways on the ship were purple and orange (dated) but up in the common areas they had done some updating to the ship like I saw on the Inspiration last year by adding columns and such. One room/lounge almost had a roman look but pretty.

 

We ate in the Ecstasy dining room and the tables were nicely situated but they had red circle lights on the ceiling and I expected Star Trek to beam us up if we stood underneath it (lol). The only problem I had with dining was it was my best friend and myself for our annual mommies get away. We were put at a round table with 3 great younger girls and a Dad and his son. Well the Dad came 2 nights and never came again which was a shame he was super nice and the son did not like to dress up so each night after they would just put whomever with us at our table. Now we got along great with the other 3 girls but for three nights it was a little weird making that same dinner conversation all over again with a group of 3 ladies who missed their early dining time. Then came a group of 5 ladies on a bachorlette cruise" that had their table in the same seating and dining room given away because they were always late, the last night was a nice (and wish we had them the whole time) retired couple from Florida who had missed their early dining.

 

I had never had that happen before where night after night different people up until the last night. I could tell our waiter was bothered as he was working his tail off and we were having to wait and then he had different courses at different times and it disrupted us eating and serving etc.

 

Sorry to get off subject just seems CCL should avoid that which they could of here.

 

But congrat's on the suite, I am sure it was great!

[Brneyznfl]

Hi Natters, this is Jan! I was up there with the rest of the gang and I took pictures of your owner's suite! Thanks SO much for inviting us to see it. That was definitely a rare opportunity! I'll be uploading my photos I took at webshot very soon. It was nice meeting you and your husband!

 

 

 

NEXT CRUISE - MIRACLE 2/13/05!

 

Triumph, Inspiration, Holiday, Explorer of the Seas, Granduer of the Seas, Glory, Conquest, Sensation

 

[HOSKI]

Wow, I have never heard of them being so nice and switching dinner times and seating around so much. I know you can get it switched the first day or after the first dinner if you don't like your tablemates but to get a late seating if you missed first or to get late seating for just your last night. Now that is a great staff.

 

Fascination 1997 Destiny 2000

Victory 2000 Sensation 2001

Norway 2002 Legend 2002

NCL Dawn 2003 Inspiration 2003

Victory 2004 Holiday 2004

[natters]

Jan, please keep in touch and I am really looking forward to seeing those webshots so that people will actually believe us!

[Brneyznfl]

Here they are!

 

http://community.webshots.com/album/142339044WnomkE

 

 

 

NEXT CRUISE - MIRACLE 2/13/05!

 

Triumph, Inspiration, Holiday, Explorer of the Seas, Granduer of the Seas, Glory, Conquest, Sensation

 

[Disneycruiser#1]

Well that was the problem. We had a full sailing but a great crowd and crew and I was also thought it strange for them to be soooooo accomodating. Please do not get me wrong, I enjoy meeting others and would talk to a tree if it would talk back. I have never been considered a quiet or shy type buuuuuttttt it was strange that the 3rd, 4th and 5th night they stuck different people with us each night

 

I was cruising with my BF and then the group of 3 girls (young ladies) from NY were great but there is just so many times in 5 nights you can go through the "where are you from, what do you do" polite dinner talk.

 

As I stated I felt sorry for our waiter as he was rushed and was having to handle entree's with starters etc. The last couple the retired couple from Florida were fun and I would have liked to have them the whole sailing with the 5 of us.

 

The other 2 groups it was hard to make conversation and it just became a running joke "who will show up at our table tonight" (lol).

 

I also have never seen any cruise line be so adaptable to someone missing their dinning times etc. Heck if it were me I would head to the buffet. I know the retired couple had a reason for missing their early seating the others just could not make it in time.

 

Oh well, great cruise. Great service, I could tell this time around Carnival is trying harder so that is good for all of us that like the cruiseline.

[Bunkie103]

Great pics, thanks for sharing. Hope someone in our group lucks out and gets the owners suite too.

 

Mary

Triumph Eastern 10/03

Victory CTN 6/04

Sensational Cruise from the Bayou 10/04

[Cotton]

Natters & Disney - THX so much for your reviews. Natters, what a wonderful 'fluke' that y'all got that suite!

 

Jan - great pics! WOW!!!

 

Festivale 1987

Carnivale 1988

Mardi Gras 1989

Pacific Princess 1990

Norway 1994

Holiday 2001

Holiday 2002

Holiday 2003

 

[sgtmonz]

how totally cool... you guys really scored... i wonder how much something like that cost... anyone know?

[zonemasconi]

Natters..here are the ones I took for you.

 

owners suite tour with natters and husband dave

 

<font SIZE="1">Click here for my Cruise Pics</font>

 

<font SIZE="1">***PROUD MEMBER O.A.T.C.***</font>

 

<font SIZE="1">Opinions expressed by the poster are not necessarily the opinions of Cruise Critic or the Independent Traveler.

They might not even be the opinion of the poster, being he may be out of his mind at the time</font>

[zonemasconi]

natters ..did you ever find out where that door in the walk in closet went to, I was reading somewhere that there was a seperate entrance to the lido deck from the suite and I wonder if that was it .

 

<font SIZE="1">Click here for my Cruise Pics</font>

 

<font SIZE="1">***PROUD MEMBER O.A.T.C.***</font>

 

<font SIZE="1">Opinions expressed by the poster are not necessarily the opinions of Cruise Critic or the Independent Traveler.

They might not even be the opinion of the poster, being he may be out of his mind at the time</font>

[natters]

Zone, Oh my Gosh, I told you that I hoped it wasnt like that Hank Hill episode where they were in Japan and they stayed in one room the entire time and the day they left they opened the door and there was the a beautiful suite. No, it was locked and I never remembered to ask the "butler" about it. You guys are so sweet for posting all the great pictures you took, thanks you.

[hill6]

What a great upgrade. I was wondering how large the balcony was and where did it look out over?

 

Triumph 7/8/00 (Eastern)

Triumph 7/28/01 (Western)

Glory 7/26/03 (Eastern)

Fantasy 7/4/04 (4 Night)

 

[zonemasconi]

I would say the balcony was at least 80 sq feet and looked of to the side of the ship over the life boats.

 

<font SIZE="1">Click here for my Cruise Pics</font>

 

<font SIZE="1">***PROUD MEMBER O.A.T.C.***</font>

 

<font SIZE="1">Opinions expressed by the poster are not necessarily the opinions of Cruise Critic or the Independent Traveler.

They might not even be the opinion of the poster, being he may be out of his mind at the time</font>